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Post by Midget87 on Nov 15, 2022 13:02:04 GMT -7
Hello everyone,
I would like to get a response here from everyone that would like to have classes on scratch building so I can gauge interest.
If this takes off I might also be able to talk a very good friend of mine Dan Wilson into helping out so we can get another angle. Dan is originally from California and a member of MESAC as well as an employee of Russkit. He also owned a hobby store in Colo Spgs named Miniature World. Dan is a monster scratch builder and modeler.
It was nice to see the legacy members of this group last Saturday at the race as well as members that are new to me. My Son Cameran and I raced with this group back from 2004 to 2008. I then opened a commercial track for a short time (While working full time in the IT world) and started the RMRRA (Rocky Mountain Retro Racing Association) with Dennis Samson. We started with the Can Am class and then later added F1 and Stock Cars. This was all for scratch built slot cars. For a short time I also raced some 1/24 scale Oval track locally. Around 2010 I parked all my slot car stuff and focused 100% on 1-1 race cars. I picked up the slot car hobby again a year ago when I started going through everything I own and refocusing what I had accumulated sincde my first Aurora A-Jet race set that I recieved for Christmas when I was 5 years old. (I still have that set)
I had a great time racing with you all on Saturday and would like to thank Jim for allowing me to drive his racers.
Mark M
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Post by Tom Dolan on Nov 15, 2022 21:00:57 GMT -7
I'm definitely interested. Tom
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Post by amiatanut on Nov 15, 2022 21:05:46 GMT -7
Im very interested also!
Marc
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Post by Jim Weickum on Nov 16, 2022 9:49:54 GMT -7
I will be there. Maybe I can learn how to fix some of my Vintage brass chassis as well.
Jim W
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Post by Steve Burkey on Nov 20, 2022 7:28:31 GMT -7
if it works out for me, I could bring along examples I've built in the last couple years. Steve
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Post by Midget87 on Nov 20, 2022 18:02:09 GMT -7
Burkster - Help me understand what you are saying.
1) Do you want to take this class?
2) What needs to happen for it to work out for you?
3) Do I have 4 people interested in this?
Thanks and LMK Mark M
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Post by grenade101 on Nov 21, 2022 9:48:24 GMT -7
I am also interested in doing the class. Timing is going to be a little bit of a Challenge, as I get my second knee replaced December 14th. Which if it goes as my first I should be able to attend but may need a ride after January 1st. Racing with the two groups, we have races on Nove 30, Dec 3, Dec 10 prior to my surgery. Where were you thinking on doing the class. Mark G and I ride together since we are both up north in Meed and Fort Collins. I think Craig might be interested but it would be based on the day and time.
Thanks Mark W
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Post by Midget87 on Nov 22, 2022 12:04:00 GMT -7
Okay - Looks like we have enough interest so we can try to pick a date. Tom is going to check to see if we can have an initial meeting at Colpar in the basement to kick this off. We won’t need much space and we will all be buying materials at the store. Tom let the folks know to pay attention to stock in the K&S rack if you could when requesting space for a meeting.
Upcoming dates that are challenges to scheduling: 11/24 Thanksgiving and most likely family stuff for everyone the weekend after. 12/3 Race day. Combining here wont really help us out much as we wont have any focus. 12/10 is my banquet for the Midget organization and since I am now Club Pres I will be busy. 12/14 Mark W goes under the knife and will need some recovery.
Question: Mark W - Is there a date that could be suggested before Christmas where you will be reasonably mobile again and could attend?
I have quite a few ideas for projects in mind and it has changed a few times. Nothing has fallen off of the list and I have just mentally shuffled the projects around. The main idea here is to come away with cars you will run and could use for race classes in the future.
I will put together a tools list and publish it here to get us all started. 1) Meeting 1 will be to discuss the following: a) Tools and usage/techniques b) Materials c) Two initial projects d) Kick off demo
Work is planned as homework with in person meetings to compare progress and work through issues. This keeps everyone from having to haul a workshop worth of tools in for every meeting.
As far as material for projects I would like everyone to own two cars. I am assuming all of you have many examples of these already. If not they are easily acquirable and we have some lead time for this. 1) Vintage Revell home set car with “non adjustable” chassis powered by an EBD 16D. (Not that big barrel shaped Mabuchi motor). These cars have press on aluminum wheels a terrible guide flag and the motor is sandwiched between tabs in the stamped aluminum chassis. If you have thrown these chassis away in the past then shame on you because we will make them worth keeping. You choose the body..Aston, Mercedes, Corvette, Ferrari etc. There is a number stamped on the bottom of the chassis that identifies which unit it is. They are all the same with the exception of wheelbase. 2) Monogram Stock Car. The current cars - Galaxies, Fairlanes etc. No Carrera stockers or anything else. We all want to be working on the same stuff to keep this simple and stay focused.
So as you can see we aren’t going to start off with a 1969 plumber anglewinder with hinged bits on its hinges bits. We can all get there eventually after you are comfortable. Mark
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Post by amiatanut on Nov 22, 2022 14:09:00 GMT -7
Mark:
This looks like a very promising beginning! Bummer about the car choices (for me). Ive got a Strombecker plastic chassis car and no Monogram stockers. Would a plastic model work? Im assuming 1/32 scale?
Marc
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Post by Midget87 on Nov 22, 2022 15:29:05 GMT -7
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Post by Steve Burkey on Nov 23, 2022 11:22:05 GMT -7
so Mark, it sounds like these initial projects that all would work together on?? would be more of what I call "component builds", wherein existing manufactured parts are combined/modified to come up with something special? In contrast to what I call "pure" scratchbuilding, ie, starting with raw stock. Over the years I've done a lot more of the former than the latter, but have experience with both. As to your questions, yes, the "stars have to align" for me these days to attend most things. But I can try, and bring along examples as well as any wisdom folks could appreciate Steve
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Post by Midget87 on Nov 23, 2022 15:32:26 GMT -7
Steve,
We would have a meeting/lesson and then go off to work individually. This is all easier in your own workshop space where you have what you need.
Project 1 would be a modular build where each person would fab all the parts from brass to retrofit a modular section onto an existing vintage unit and make it worthy of running. This is a skills development exercise that will also help one identify tools usage for a given task. You don’t want to underestimate this one as you will still be making purchases at the K&S rack to complete it. *Raw stock yes and pure scratch building yes.
Project 2 would be a full chassis under a slot car body. Axle heights as well as how to build something square are critical here. These can be tackled at close to the same time but #1 does lead into #2.
In order to teach this we need to have an apples to apples comparison on projects and that is why I chose these two first and in this order.
Mark M
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Post by Midget87 on Nov 25, 2022 19:44:00 GMT -7
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Post by Midget87 on Nov 25, 2022 19:44:53 GMT -7
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Post by grenade101 on Nov 26, 2022 0:21:04 GMT -7
Question: Mark W - Is there a date that could be suggested before Christmas where you will be reasonably mobile again and could attend?Mark M. Based on the last knee which was only 10/12, 10 days is not going to be good for me to be in a car for 90 min. The 31st or the 7th should be doable. I would probably drive to Marc G's and ride with him down. I have several Revell cars with the stamped aluminum chassis. Marc G. Talk to me about one if you need. I also have new bodies for this chassis so if someone wants or needs a new one. Let me know. I have one of the Monogram 121 Gurney cars but will pick up a second Andretti, as that was already on my shopping list. Thanks Mark W
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